Episode Report Card Kim: B+ | 2 USERS: C YOU GRADE IT Federal Agent Question Mark
By Kim | Season 22 | Episode 1 | Aired on 02.16.2011
Phillip, the former Federal Agent Question Mark, gives a nice speech to the camera about how it may not be in the tribe's best interests to get rid of Rob, but it is definitely in Phillip's best interests, so it's happening. Phillip claps his hands, grins at the camera and promises, "Goodbye, Rob! And you're looking at the new leader of our tribe." This guy is gold. I don't know who cast him, but I hope that person got a raise of some sort.
The Ometepe tribe enters Tribal Council, grabs their torches, and lights them from the fire. Fasten your seatbelts, kids. This might be the most entertaining Tribal Council I've ever seen. So let's review what we know going in: Kristina has the HII. Francesca and Phillip know that, and those three are voting for Rob. Meanwhile, the remaining three women are voting for Kristina and the remaining three men are voting for Francesca. And they suspect that Kristina might have the HII. So that's where we are headed into it -- whether Kristina plays the HII or not, there will be a tie and a revote.
Probst gives his usual spiel about fire representing life in the game before acknowledging that things are different this season because of Redemption Island, but let's not talk about that now, because it ruins the dramatic torch-lighting thing we've got going.
Once everyone is seated, Probst starts with Rob and asks how things are going. Rob's no dummy; he knows to deflect everything to Phillip and then sit back and watch the fireworks fly. So Rob says that everyone got to work, and Phillip stepped up and took over, and they worked together to build a good shelter. Phillip says that he doesn't know if he's the leader but he doesn't mind telling people what needs doing. Francesca rolls her eyes so hard, I'm surprised Probst didn't hear it, much less see it and call her out on it. Probst asks Christian Pre-Med Matt if Phillip is the leader and Matt says that if Phillip thinks you're doing something counter-productive, he will call you out, and that's not always well-received on day one. Phillip already looks pissed off. Just note that. They started out by dissing Phillip.
Probst moves on to ask Francesca about the reasons for making someone the first boot. Francesca gives the PC answer that you want to have a physically strong tribe, so it follows that a woman will be the first to go, but you never know. Kristina says that she doesn't feel safe, and shows that she brought her bag, which is totally full of clothes and definitely not the HII at all! Rob laughs behind her, because he's totally onto her. Probst says that the guys might feel safe, but Rob has "an asterick [sic] next to [his] name." Rob knows he might go home and there's nothing he can do about it.